Modern notions about nanosized conjugates of gold, silver, and iron oxide nanoparticles with antitumor drugs, which are intended for chemotherapy, are considered. The main possibilities of increasing the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy with the aid of such metal nanoparticle – antitumor drug conjugates are shown. Among these possibilities, the most important in practice are the targeted drug delivery, controlled drug release, and suppression of multiple drug resistance of tumor cells. Analysis of the advantages and drawbacks of biomedical applications of various metal nanoparticles for antitumor therapy shows good prospects for using conjugates of iron oxide nanoparticles with antitumor drugs, in particular, with doxorubucin. Expediency of the creation of these nanocomplexes is justified by the possibility of their magnetic-driven delivery, controlled biodistribution, selective toxicity, and relatively simple synthesis.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) can be an effective magnetic resonance contrast agent and a platform for targeted delivery of antineoplastic agent into tumor tissue. This research is dedicated to a new synthesis modification of superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) d<10nm layer-by-layer stabilized with oleic acid and nonionic surfactant, Tween-80. Relaxivity of the substance was r1= 9,8, r2= 94 mM-1×sec-1. An effective conjugation with doxorubicin was performed (estimated conjugation efficacy: 90 %). Evaluated doxorubicin release from conjugate was not higher than 5 %, whereas ultrasound radiation enhanced drug release up to 21 %. Doxorubicin conjugated with nanoparticles shown higher antineoplastic activity than free doxorubicin molecules while investigating cytotoxicity in vitro. Obtained magnetite nanoparticles bear a diagnostic potential as a magnetic resonance contrast agent and also, it can serve as a platform for designing targeted drug delivery systems as well as providing antineoplastic agents controlled release, in particular, doxorubicin.